TRPM 76

chapter 76

Yeon Mirae unleashed a black aura from her sword, slaughtering every kobold in the dungeon.

She absorbed the scattered energy from the kobolds’ bodies, converting it into her own internal energy.

“…!”

During the process, Yeon Mirae felt a pain that pierced her entire body as if stabbed by countless needles.

It wasn’t just the act of embedding the kobolds’ magic into her body and converting it into internal energy that caused pain.

Her corrupted internal energy, dantian, and damaged meridians made circulating her internal energy a painful ordeal.

This meant she would continue to feel this pain every time she used her internal energy in the future.

But she didn’t mind.

This was pain caused by her own mistakes.

A karmic consequence of her own foolish actions.

So she had to endure it.

‘So I won’t forget my foolishness.’

To ensure she never repeated the same mistake.

Yeon Mirae did not seek to get used to the pain.

“…Huu.”

As the pain subsided slightly, Yeon Mirae exhaled deeply and looked at the kobolds she had slaughtered.

Or more precisely, the cross-sections of the kobolds.

‘… Doesn’t look cleanly sliced.’

Even though she had cut them with a sword wrapped in aura, the bodies of the kobolds were more torn or exploded than cleanly sliced.

It was a scene created by the black aura she now wielded.

Unlike her previous aura, which displayed sharpness with minimal internal energy, this black aura was destructive.

At first glance, it might seem like the attack power had improved, but it also required much more internal energy, so it wasn’t entirely advantageous.

‘…Alright.’

Still, it was fine.

She could now replenish her internal energy as much as needed.

Of course, this would make her suffer even more, but for Yeon Mirae, who didn’t want to forget this mistake, it was actually beneficial.

“Fuu…”

She moved her internal energy to gauge how much it had increased in the dungeon.

‘…A little less than when I do Qigong exercises beside my master.’

The kobolds hadn’t had much magic, and there was also some loss when converting corrupted magic into internal energy.

At first glance, it might seem like her growth rate had slowed, but by combining Qigong and the Soul Absorption technique, her internal energy accumulation would gradually accelerate.

Moreover…

‘I don’t plan to clear only this dungeon.’

She had been in the kobold dungeon for less than an hour.

The night was long, and there would be plenty of time to tackle other dungeons.

Thinking this, Yeon Mirae watched the light gather beside her.

The Awakener System was preparing to reward her for clearing the dungeon.

“……”

After watching it for a moment, Yeon Mirae reached out to the light.

“……”

She wondered if she could absorb the ether the same way she absorbed the monsters’ energy.

Her hesitation was brief.

She had already decided to consume even corruption with her own power, and ether, unlike monster magic, wouldn’t harm her.

However, unlike Yeon Mirae’s thinking…

【Warning.】

【Warning.】

【User Yeon Mirae’s current action is not recommended.】

The Awakener System recoiled and tried to stop her.

It had not interfered when she absorbed corrupted monster magic.

Yet now, it prevented her from absorbing ether directly.

“…Why all of a sudden…?”

Yeon Mirae was somewhat surprised by the system’s reaction.

She knew it had favored Han Geon-woo and even granted special benefits to his disciple.

But this was the first time it had directly warned her not to do something.

Before his regression, the system had occasionally warned Han Geon-woo, but she didn’t know that, so the system’s behavior felt strange.

【Warning.】

【Unrefined ether.】

【Can be transformed into any substance.】

【May transform into harmful substances.】

In short…

“Don’t do it because we don’t know how the ether will change inside me…?”

The Awakener System confirmed her suspicion.

Yeon Mirae stopped attempting to absorb the ether and asked the system:

“Then why didn’t you stop me when I absorbed monster magic?”

【Monster magic.】

【A method of purifying exists.】

【Absorption possible.】

The system didn’t stop her because there was a way to treat it safely.

【Unrefined ether.】

【If transformed into a harmful substance, instant death possible.】

【Resurrection impossible.】

Ether could kill her instantly, so the system intervened.

“Haah…”

Only now did Yeon Mirae understand the system.

Still, the frustration remained.

If she could just absorb that lump of ether being formed into an artifact…

Perhaps sensing her thought, the system proposed a deal:

【Proposing a transaction to user Yeon Mirae.】

“…Huh? A transaction? With me?”

The system, as it had done with Han Geon-woo, offered her a deal.

Yeon Mirae wasn’t surprised; she knew the system had offered deals to others before.

“Except I have nothing to give you…”

Similar to Han Geon-woo’s case.

She hadn’t registered techniques in the system’s database to earn points.

Even though she gained some points clearing dungeons, it was a small amount.

What did the system want from her?

【The system will provide user Yeon Mirae with new potential.】

【In exchange, the system requests user Yeon Mirae abandon the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique and research this new potential.】

New potential.

The words tempted her, but another part of the message made her cautious.

“…You want me to abandon the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique?”

The martial art Han Geon-woo had created solely for her?

The technique that had changed her destiny?

【Proposing a transaction for user Yeon Mirae.】

【This is a transaction for user Yeon Mirae.】

The messages continued appearing.

Yeon Mirae tried to ignore them… until the next message came:

【This transaction is for user Han Geon-woo.】

Yeon Mirae stiffened.

Abandoning the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique for his sake?

‘It’s not a lie… right?’

What reason would the system have to lie to her?

“…Why is this transaction for my master?”

She needed to understand why.

【User Han Geon-woo’s combat style.】

【Unavoidable, powerful attacks.】

Yeon Mirae nodded at the system’s words.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t use other sword techniques, but Han Geon-woo’s main sword strikes were all near-lethal.

【User Yeon Mirae’s combat style.】

【Fast, fluid attacks.】

She used a defensive style, smoothly avoiding attacks while accumulating damage.

Of course, against weaker opponents, she often struck them down in one move.

【Compatibility of both sword techniques.】

【Average.】

The two styles weren’t perfectly complementary.

She could draw attention while Han Geon-woo struck decisively, but given their level, fighting separately was more effective.

【For user Yeon Mirae to assist user Han Geon-woo, it is recommended to learn a compatible sword technique.】

【Abandon Reverse Heaven Divine Technique and adopt the Pae Sword.】

【Or, from the start, learn a sword technique to assist Han Geon-woo.】

After reading all the messages, Yeon Mirae quietly nodded, accepting the system’s proposal.

“…So? What’s this new potential I’m supposed to gain and research?”

She asked what power she would receive by abandoning the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique.

【A martial art created by user Han Geon-woo.】

【A new possibility within the martial art category.】

Immediately, she felt her dantian energy—her corrupted internal energy—begin to change.

The system had touched the internal energy in her dantian directly.

‘…This is…’

Her internal energy darkened.

It had already been black due to corruption, but now it was beyond description.

Yet it emitted light.

‘Black light…’

Yes. Better called pitch-black.

Feeling the pitch-black energy in her dantian, she looked back at the system messages.

【The martial art created by user Han Geon-woo corresponds to orthodox martial arts in novels.】

【Meanwhile, recent martial arts novels also feature another branch: Dark Arts (Magong).】

Magong.

In novels, used by characters of evil sects, it is fast to cultivate but often comes with severe side effects.

【Providing user Yeon Mirae with magical energy (Maggi) required for Magong.】

【Maggi will grow by consuming all energy entering user Yeon Mirae’s body.】

【The system requests user Yeon Mirae research Magong using this Maggi.】

Yeon Mirae felt the pitch-black energy in her body… the Maggi.

…It was different from regular internal energy.

Maggi constantly hungered for blood.

Luckily, as a Hwa-Kyung martial artist, she resisted the urge.

‘Or maybe I should now call myself Gukma (Ultimate Demon) instead of Hwa-Kyung?’

One thing was certain: Han Geon-woo would frown at her transformation, yet support her if this was the path she chose.

‘Really… to be abandoned by him… When I was consumed by Simma, I let such thoughts disturb me.’

Yeon Mirae stayed still, reflecting on this.

“…Three, four… seven… ten…”

Suddenly, she sensed movement around her.

These weren’t random dungeon explorers.

‘(There’s Yeon Mirae, presumably an Oracle subordinate.)’

‘(An Aura Master… it’s been a while since I’ve killed one.)’

‘(Even with our organization’s equipment, killing an Aura Master isn’t difficult, but this time the goal is despair, not death. Don’t kill recklessly.)’

Yeon Mirae overheard everything.

…They were probably Oracle subordinates sent to eliminate her.

They seemed capable of handling an Aura Master, but Yeon Mirae didn’t care.

She was simply delighted to have an opponent to test her newly acquired power.